Aretha Franklin gospel film is finally released, 46 years after it was made

THE NEW YORK TIMES
By Brooks Barnes

The documentary “Amazing Grace,” with Aretha Franklin’s 1972 performance of the song, will have its world premiere Nov. 12 in New York at the festival Doc NYC.CreditCreditDaniel Lefevre/INA, via Getty Images

LOS ANGELES — One of Hollywood’s holy grails, “Amazing Grace,” capturing what is considered to be Aretha Franklin’s most transcendent gospel performance, is headed to theaters 46 years after it was filmed. “Her fans need to see this film, which is so pure and so joyous,” Sabrina Owens, Ms. Franklin’s niece and the executor of the Franklin estate, said in an interview. “And the world needs to see it. Our country, it’s in such a state right now.” She declined to comment on terms of the deal. Freed from legal entanglements — Ms. Franklin, who died in August, sued repeatedly over the years to block its release — “Amazing Grace” will have its world premiere next Monday, Nov. 12, in New York at Doc NYC, a festival dedicated to nonfiction cinema. [More]